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Whatever mom

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Hey there peeps! So, I now have a column called “Whatever Mom” over at Bloggy Magazine on Tuesdays. Since I don’t want to make you guys travel every Tuesday I’m just going to post it over here as well. I have had a few of them up already but I’m really just getting started. Feel free to check out the magazine which is also just in it’s infancy. I will also be taking topics by email so feel free to send anything you want me to discuss in. The email address is 2whatevermom@gmail.com

Meanwhile, here’s todays post of Whatever Mom!

On Homework

Today I’m going to talk about homework; no, not my homework, my kid’s homework. My kid’s school had the philosophy of 10 minutes of homework in first grade, 20 minutes in second grade, 30 minutes in third grade, etc. etc. etc.

I remember when my daughters were in 4th and 5th grades and I was discussing homework with another mom. She was telling me that homework time was a nightmare in her house and that she needed a glass of wine to unwind from the stress of it all. She wanted to know if my experience was similar? Ummmm … no?

I can’t even imagine such a thing. I suppose I was very lucky with the homework regimen in our house. Because Keely started swimming when she was 7, she had swimming practice in the early evenings. This scheduling problem required that she complete her homework immediately upon returning from school.

Pretty soon, Andie also started swimming so I had two girls coming home from school and jumping into their homework. As a result, a pattern was set and my kids always began their homework right after school.

Obviously, as school sports became part of their life, their schedules changed occasionally and Andie especially had field hockey directly after school but still, when they got home they began their homework.

This turned out to be good for Daniel as I knew many parents of boys whose sons completely procrastinated with their homework. I never told Daniel that it was required that he do his homework immediately but he obviously assumed that he was so I NEVER had those panicky times at 11 or 12 o’clock where a kid was trying to complete an assignment.

The end result was that all my kids did their homework efficiently and without any parental involvement. Of course I discussed papers and topics and batted around ideas with them and I helped by asking vocabulary questions and other assorted stuff before tests, but for the most part my kids were on top of their own stuff from the get go.

I’m sure a LOT of this was luck but a LOT is also habit. So what’s the point of this entire post? I suppose it’s to establish a routine that works for your family and sets the tone for success. I didn’t do it on purpose but it worked out that way but I’m telling you that it’s a must. Well, at least in my opinion.

16 Comments

kelley

October 25, 2011

Snack and homework right after school. They get it done while they still have energy and they don’t have to stop doing something fun to start homework. Also, there is more incentive to finish if they have fun stuff to look forward to (not bath or bed).

Although my kids didn’t have much homework – usually no more than 30 minutes or an hour – they did it when they got home from school. As you point out there were exceptions but it got done. I think I may have stressed out 1 or 2 times before I remembered it wasn’t my homework. It was their responsibility to get the work done, I was just there to check it, offer advice when/if asked, and nothing more.

even when they were older? my kids had boatloads of homework in High School

becky

October 25, 2011

Yeah – they had more homework in high school, but not every day. They usually did most of it during their study hall and didn’t bring much of it home. Then they only asked me to check it when it was a writing assignment.

Love the routine of it. It’s how I was raised. Do the homework right after school and then there’s time for a family game or a favorite show or some other fun activity. Then again, I was the rare bird who enjoyed homework too…

I always wanted my boys to do their homework right after school, but my darling husband didn’t quite agree with me, so homework was a battle for ME. Now that my youngest is in 9th grade, my husband is FINALLY on board with me…he saw the struggle went through all those years and finally “gets” WHY I wanted it done after school! Duh! Now that my son is old enough to do most of it on his own it’s kind of a mute point. I needed it back when they were younger. At least my husband said he was sorry! I should make him “pay” though… a few years worth of massages sound pretty good.

This is so true.. We parents should set routines for your kiddos while there were young.. So that in the end it will not that hard for them doing their assignment and stuff.. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us!Greece recently posted..Luxury Ski Chalet